Maybe Next Year...

Halloween did not turn out quite how we planned. Mommy came home on the red-eye, so everyone's schedule was a bit off. Genevieve had a great day at school. Daddy kept her busy so that Mommy could get some sleep. When Gigi got home, the situation disintegrated. She refused healthy food and sobbed at quiet time. When quiet time finally happened, it lasted until 7:00 pm. Oooops. Still time to trick-or-treat at a few houses, but the hunger strike continued. Mommy and Daddy drive a hard bargain -- no healthy food, no begging for candy. Perhaps we are the meanest parents in America. Genevieve decided that she would eat some food, but it was now after 8:00, and trick-or-treating hours. The consolation prize was a piece of pumpkin pie. She dressed-up for a pretend costume party (and quite a costume it was), and seemed happy with the evening.

Mommy's Sad Heart

Mommy is far away in California missing her family. I received a phone message with poor Genevieve crying, telling me that she misses me so, so much. So I had to cry too.

Later I spoke to Daddy and learned that it was not really so bad for my sweet little dear. She got to go to Glenwood Gardens and play with Lily and Alex. Aunt Kristen sent a pic, but I have no details to fill in. Looks like all had a wonderful time.

Daddy gave her a special treat of TWO ice cream sandwiches! Some fun things are happening while Mommy is away!

Peanut Butter & Jam

At bedtime, I asked Genevieve what was the best part of the day. She replied enthusiastically, "All of it!"

It was the typical Daddy planned, action-packed day. She started with a Peanut Butter and Jam concert featuring a string quintet and the Madcap Puppets telling the story of "The Gingerbread Man." She had a Graeter's cookie at the end. She asked to go to Findlay Market (we were in the neighborhood) and tried to buy everything in sight. After Findlay, we went to Grailville in Loveland to pick up the co-op produce shares. While Daddy sorted produce, Gigi and Mommy made fairy houses in the field. We then picked up Grammy from her bridge game (which means candy too).

After delivering the produce to College Hill, Gigi and Mommy went to "the art studio" (Happen, Inc.) and carved clay pumpkins.

Twin Lakes Halloween

Tonight was the annual Halloween party at Grammy's retirement community. There were games, treats, petting zoo, pony rides, trick-or-treating, decorative exhibits, carriage rides, a haunted house, and a pumpkin patch. The final event was a costume contest with a parade of all the participants. Genevieve was definitely not up for a best costume prize, but she was a shoo-in for Miss Congeniality! She marched (it was a parade, afterall) with vigor, and yelled "Hi!" with wild waves to elderly bystanders on their own (couples got no special greeting). She complained that a bigger boy in the line near her "sworded me."

She spent some time drawing in Grammy's room to settle down as the party was winding down. She created her first portrait of someone other than herself. It started out with a daffodil "for Grammy, because it is her favorite flower." (it is Grandma Jeanie's favorite too). Then, she drew Grammy - much like Miss Carmy, her teacher, said she might. When she finished Grammy's face, her legs came straight down from her head. She explained that this was a picture when Grammy was walking (which she thinks about often). Grammy then got an arm and a hand to pick the flower. I was terribly amused by her descriptions, and wanted to document. This was suddenly inportant to her too. She wanted to write Grammy's name. She asked me for the letters.

Farewell, Delta Queen

The usual fun Tuesday at the library with Mr. Eric and Servatii bakery visit was bigger than usual. Gigi went to Tuesdays with Tchaikovsky at CCM at noon. For a 3 year old, Genevieve has great concert manners. Gigi also got to play with neighbor Lily in the sandbox. THEN, she got to go say a final goodbye to the Delta Queen with Daddy. Plenty of local and state politicians were on hand. When John and Gigi picked me up from work, Genevieve was crying -- though it did not seem quite genuine. She was crying because she misses the Delta Queen. Apparently it was a very moving experience. She talked about one speaker (who she called Katie) whose grandma (who bought the boat)died on the boat.

The doll-to-replace-the-blanket experiment is not going as planned. Tonight while reading stories, Genevieve wrinkled her nose and said that she smelled something that smelled "not good." I asked her what it smelled like. She said, "a diaper." She assured me that she did not have gas. The nose-wrinkle continued. She said in a stage whisper - "I think it's Greenie....she wears a diaper. I better change her." After Greenie was changed, she let me know that Greenie really doesn't like the smell of a yucky diaper either. She then explained to me the diaper changing process in great detail.

Genevieve was very upset that Daddy was not at home for her at night. She asked repeatedly why he had to be at Grammy's so so late when she needed him at home to help her. I reminded her (for what felt like the tenth time) that Daddy was taking Grammy to a lecture - a talk about art. She asked,"Is it a talk about art where people sit in wheelchairs?" Shortly thereafter, the great sadness for "the lady boat" resumed. She also wanted to know if she was there when Katie's grandma died (on the boat). I reminded her that she did not actually get on the boat, and I told her that Katie's grandma did not die today. Her response was a simple, "Oh."

Fairies in Red Bird Hollow

After a loud day of happy kids (at Shaw Farm), Daddy needed a quieter day. We chose to hike in Red Bird Hollow. Aunt Kristen, Lily and Alex joined us. It was a day of happy frollicking dogs, kids on big rocks in the creek, and the building of fairy houses. Gigi and Lily found a great place. Liliy laid lots of moss carpet. Gigi collected walnut furniture. Alex got lots of sticks. The final fairy digs were elaborate - living room, kitchen, bedroom.

We moved to another park for a picnic (no eating on the Red Bird Hollow trail). After a quick lunch, the kids were back on task, building fairy houses. This house had more diverse building products - leaves, sticks, flowers, fuzz balls, mushrooms, nuts, and berries. The girls worked for nearly two hours - Alex, not quite so long. His boyness kicked in and he had to go throw rocks in the pond. Aunt Sharon and Grammy came to the park too, and got to admire the fairy house.

More Pumpkins!

Genevieve and Grammy went to Shaw Farms. There were pumpkins everywhere! Genevieve had a wonderful time running about all play structures and teepees and petting zoo. Grammy watch. Mommy snacked. Daddy did his best to keep all the girls happy.

Gigi's favorite activity was searching for stray pieces of corn, which she collected and fed to the chickens, despite a sign forbidding her to do so. We read the sign together several times. Each time the message was slightly different, but the jist was "do not feed the chickens or will not get any ice cream."

Before picking up Grammy, we picked up the the van at Patrick's house. Gigi was so excited to say hi to Patrick and Aunt Sharon. Patrick and Sharon were preparing for dinner guests, so greetings were brief. As we were saying our good-byes, Gigi yelled, "Good-bye Aunt Sharon- enjoy Patrick!"